LCU splits pair with Crusaders

Published: Sunday, February 20, 2000

SAN ANTONIO (Special) Stephen Leist and Jeff Randol homered, and Gabe Flores delivered big hits in a pair of three-run innings as Lubbock Christian University beat Incarnate Word 10-4 Saturday on the way to splitting a college baseball doubleheader.

The Crusaders salvaged one piece of the four-game series, winning the finale 4-2 on the strength of Jaime Trevino's tie-breaking two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. After 12 road games, the Chaparrals (7-5) start their home schedule Tuesday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader versus Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Trevino's homer, his second in two days, came off one of LCU's hottest pitchers, Jason Dean (2-1).

Dean doubled home a run in the second inning, halving what had been a 2-0 LCU deficit, and Jason Breland hit his fourth home run, a solo shot, to briefly tie the game in the top of the sixth.

Trevino's decisive homer came with two outs in the home sixth and scored Billy Dennis, who had hit a leadoff single.

The Chaps built substantial leads early in game two to pave the way for pitcher Jeff McWilliams (1-1), who walked five but pitched one-hit ball for six innings. Leist pitched the seventh.

Leist hit a solo homer in the first, and Flores singled home the first run in the second for a 2-0 lead. Four batters later, Ray Ibarra capped the inning with a two-run single.

Britt Harper singled home a run in the fifth, making the Chaps' lead 5-1, and the margin went to 8-2 with three more in the sixth. Randol launched his first homer against Marcus Galaviz (1-2), who went the distance, and Flores unloaded a two-run double.

In the seventh, Randol hit a sacrifice fly and Kurt Kristynik singled home the final Chaps run.